Cultivator point assembly

ABSTRACT

A cultivator point assembly includes an adaptor having a front and a rear end, and intended to be mounted to a cultivator machine at an upper end and having a foot projecting from a lower end. A cultivator point is adapted to be engaged with the adaptor and has a mounting section and a forward ground-working edge. An aperture in the mounting section is adapted to receive the foot of the adaptor in a first reversed position, whereafter the cultivator point is rotated 180° relative to the adaptor into an intermediate position in which the ground working edge is in a forward facing position relative to the adaptor, and is then moved rearwardly relative to the adaptor into a working position. A stop in use prevents unintentional detachment of the cultivator point from the adaptor.

The present invention relates to a cultivator point assembly including acultivator point and an adaptor for fixing to a cultivator.

With up to 250 cultivator points per cultivator or airseeder machine,cultivator point performance and reliability is of great concern tofarmers. Developments in the area of tillage and seeding machinery haveseen cultivator points acquire a wide, wedge-like shape which slicesthrough the ground separating the soil with minimum undesirable turning.Turning of the soil exposes cloddy lumps and mixes straw in with goodsoil.

A further important consideration is the time and labour spent inchanging cultivator points after wearing. Certain types of pointsrequire considerable force and encouragement to detach from the tyne,especially if they are caked with mud and straw. It can take one personseveral hours to change all points on a cultivator.

A major problem with points is that they become loose and can fall offthe machine. Generally, cultivator points are either connected toadaptors which are fixed onto a depending cultivator tyne by a bolt orare directly connected to the tyne by some fastening means. Points aremore likely to loosen as the machine turns around in a field or when thepoints are lifted off the ground for transportation to and from a field.As they hang off the tynes the points are subjected to vibrations andrandom movement resulting from the rough ride of the cultivator vehicleon uneven ground. Consequently, the points are often dislodged from aground working position and then from the tyne altogether. If the farmeris not aware of this and proceeds to till or sow a field great lossescan result in wasted seeds and fertilizer. Time is lost returning to thefield to complete the task and crop is lost if the farmer has notrealised the ground was not cultivated.

Points which are strapped or press fitted onto the tyne require littleimpact to detach from the tyne. A rock in the path of the point duringoperation could force the point upward and cause it to dislodge.

To overcome this problem it has been known to attach the cultivatorpoint to the adaptor by a “twist-on” arrangement. This comprises fittingthe point on an adaptor by positioning the point while in a reversedposition so that a keyhole of the point receives a flange of the adaptorand rotating the point 180° and moving it into a working position. Whilethis arrangement somewhat. reduces the incidence of detaching points, itis not entirely effective as rotation of the point through 180° anddetachment will still occur with larger vibrational or random forces orwith larger ground impacts.

There is therefore a need for a cultivator assembly in which thecultivator point can be quickly and reliably attached to an adaptor on acultivator.

According to the present invention there is provided a cultivator pointassembly including:

an adaptor having a front and a rear end, and intended to be mounted toa cultivator machine at an upper end and having a foot projecting from alower end;

a cultivator point adapted to be engaged with the adaptor and having amounting section and a forward ground-working edge;

an aperture in the mounting section which is adapted to receive the footof the adaptor in a first reversed position, whereafter the cultivatorpoint is rotated 180° relative to the adaptor into an intermediateposition in which the ground working edge is in a forward facingposition relative to the adaptor, and is then moved rearwardly relativeto the adaptor into a working position; and

a stop means which in use prevents unintentional detachment of thecultivator point from the adaptor.

The present invention is described further by way of example withreference to the accompanying drawings of which:

FIG. 1 is a side view of a preferred embodiment of the cultivator pointassembly of the present invention attached to a tyne;

FIG. 2 is an upper perspective view of the cultivator point assembly;

FIG. 3 is a lower perspective view of the cultivator point of thecultivator point assembly;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the adaptor of the cultivator pointassembly;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the underside of the cultivator point assembly;and

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the adaptor ofthe cultivator point assembly.

FIG. 7 is an upper perspective view of the cultivator point assemblywith the adaptor of the second embodiment.

The cultivator point assembly of the present invention, generallydenoted as 10, comprises an adaptor 11 and a cultivator point 12. Theadaptor is fixed to a depending tyne 13 of a cultivator machine as shownin FIG. 1. The cultivator point is made of cast iron or steel and has asharp, forward ground working edge 25 which contacts the ground. Theground working edge is in a forward facing position relative to theassembly.

An aperture 17 in a mounting section 18 of the cultivator point 12receives a foot 16 projecting from a lower end of the adaptor. Theaperture is roughly the shape of a keyhole with a main circular opening17 a and an elongate opening 20. The cultivator point initially receivesthe foot of the adaptor in a reversed position, the point being thenrotated approximately 180° about the foot into an intermediate position.The cultivator point is then moved into a working position along theelongate opening 20 of the aperture 17, with peripheral edges 19 ofelongate opening 20 slidably engaging lateral grooves 21 on either sideof the foot. The cultivator point is thus easily and quickly engageablewith the adaptor. Elongate opening 20 tapers from the aperture 17 sothat the further the elongate opening 20 moves on the foot of theadaptor, the more the point will wedge onto the adaptor, therebyproviding a tighter engagement of the point and adaptor.

During normal, smooth operation of the cultivator, the movement of thepoint through the ground wedges the point onto the adaptor in theworking position. However, it is foreseeable that the cultivator pointcould be knocked from its working position in which case the knockingforce will cause the point to travel past the intermediate position andinto a forward position as shown in FIG. 5. One or more stopping meanson the cultivator point prevent the cultivator point rotating anddisengaging unintentionally. The stopping means will comprise a firststructure on the cultivator point and a second structure on the adaptor,wherein the first and second structures cooperate with each other toprevent unintentional disengagement of the adaptor and the cultivatorpoint. Nodes 30 on the underside of the cultivator point engage with thefoot, or more specifically, with a tail section 26 of the foot so as toprevent the point rotating 180°. There are two nodes spaced from oneanother approximately 90° on the circumference of circular opening 17 a.It is understood that the nodes could be spaced closer together tofurther limit rotation of the cultivator point.

The stopping means may also include a nut 33 and a bolt 31 inserted in abore located at the rear 32 of the cultivator point. The bolt isinserted after the point is assembled onto the adaptor and protrudesfrom the upper surface 18 a of the mounting section. As the cultivatorpoint is knocked into the forward position a complementary recess 34 onthe adaptor engages with the bolt protruding upwardly at the rear of thecultivator point. The complementary recess is shaped according to thehead of the bolt such that the recess and bolt head conform with oneanother and engage. The cultivator point is unable to rotate when thebolt head and complementary recess are engaged. In the absence of arecess 34, the rear portion of a base 14 of the adaptor will contact thebolt head before the point moves into the intermediate position. Onceagain, the cultivator point is therefore unable to rotate and detachfrom the adaptor.

It is understood that any other reasonable detent can be used in placeof the nut and bolt. One example is a ring pin which finds wide use inagricultural equipment.

A second embodiment of the adaptor is illustrated in FIG. 6 and definesan alternate stopping means. This embodiment also incorporates a bolt 31through the rear 32 of the cultivator point, but rather than acomplementary recess, a tongue 45 protrudes from the rear of the adaptor11. If the cultivator point is knocked, the tongue 45 is designed toabut the head of bolt 31. The length of the tongue is such that it willabut the bolt before the cultivator point can be knocked into theintermediate position. Since the cultivator point cannot be brought intothe intermediate position, there is no opportunity for it to rotate offthe adaptor.

As most clearly illustrated in FIG. 4, adaptor 11 comprises the base 14,a rear-facing concave support 15 projecting upwardly of the base and afoot 16 projecting downwardly of the base. Complementary recess 34, ortongue 45, is located on the rear edge of the base. A root 22 of thefoot 16 is substantially rectangular in shape and immediately adjacentthe base. The root 22 is thinner and shorter in length than the base andprojects from a forward position on the underside of the base andsubstantially central of the width of the base. Adjacent the root 22 aflange 23 forms a laterally flared end of the foot which has a widthcomparable to the width of the base. The flange flares outward of bothsides of the adaptor as well as from the front end of the adaptor. Theflange is spaced from the edges 24 of the base. Root 22 is recessed inrelation to flange 23 and base edges 24. Together, flange 23, base edges24 and recessed root 22 define the lateral grooves 21 on the sides ofthe adaptor which engage with peripheral edges 19 of the cultivatorpoint.

Tail section 26 has a rectangular portion 28 which extends rearwardly ofthe foot and is in the same plane as the flange such that it too isspaced from the base. The end of the tail section is defined by astepped recess 27 with the cut-out portion forming the step facingupwardly towards the underside of the base 14. The stepped recessfacilitates intentional rotation and removal of the cultivator point inthe intermediate position because the nodes 30 pass under the steppedrecess without inhibiting rotation. In the forward position, rotation isnot possible since the cultivator point is more forward of the adaptorthan in the intermediate position and thus nodes 30 intercept withrectangular portion 28 or the flange 23.

Two lateral knobs 35 project transversely from the stepped recess on theend of the tail section. From a plan view of the adaptor as illustratedin FIG. 5, the lateral knobs form a widened, T-shaped termination of thetail section. This feature has effect when the cultivator point is inthe reversed position, that is, after it has received the foot of theadaptor. Essentially, the lateral knobs prevent the cultivator pointdisengaging from the foot by contacting peripheral edges 19 a of theelongate section 20 of the aperture. The lateral knobs are effectively afurther preventative means of the cultivator point detaching from theadaptor by acting as stops against edges 19 a when in the reversedposition. To locate the cultivator point on the foot it is thereforenecessary to firstly tilt the point at an angle which allows the tailsection of the foot to be inserted in the circular opening 17 a first.

Tongue 45 acts as a further preventative means when the cultivator pointis in the reversed position. It ensure that unless the tongue 45 iscorrectly aligned with elongate section 20, the adaptor will not bedetached. The tongue in combination with the tail section and flange 23of the adaptor provide a narrow margin in which to correctly align thepoint in the aperture 17 for detachment. In other words, detachment willnot occur unless the cultivator point is rotated to the correctalignment and tilted at the correct angle.

Once the tail section and the tongue (in the second embodiment of theadaptor) has been inserted in the circular opening 17 a, the flange andthe rest of the foot is inserted into the circular opening bringing theassembly into the reversed position. The cultivator point is nextrotated 180° so that the tail section points rearwardly of the pointbringing the assembly into the intermediate position. During thisrotation nodes 30 freely pass under stepped recess 27 and do not contactthe foot. From the intermediate position the cultivator point is movedrearwardly of the adaptor resulting in peripheral edges 19 of elongatesection 20 to slide in lateral grooves 21 thereby securely maintainingthe cultivator point in a ground working position as best illustrated inFIG. 2.

FIG. 1 illustrates an upper end 36 of the adaptor fixed onto thedepending tyne 13 by a bolt 37 through bolt slot 38 on the adaptor. Thelongitudinal shape of bolt slot 38 allows for a higher or lowerpositioning of the bolt thereby adjusting the vertical/forward positionof the adaptor on the tyne. The adaptor generally functions as anattachment means between the cultivator point and the tyne and typicallyremains fixed to the tyne even though the cultivator point may bereplaced due to wear.

The cultivator point 12 with the flat mounting section 18 containing theaperture 17, and the ground working edge 25 extending from a forward endof the mounting section, further has two downwardly angled wings 39extending laterally and substantially between the mounting section andthe ground working edge. The ground working edge is typically of a hardmaterial such as tungsten carbide which will withstand a high degree ofuse with minimal wear. A ridge 40 forms an upper edge of the groundworking point and serves to divide and deflect a stream of materialthrown up by the cultivator during tilling or sowing.

The cultivator point is structured such that when attached to the tynethe ground working edge is lower than the lowest point 39 a on thewings. In this way as the cultivator point is driven through the groundthe ground working edge digs a deep, narrow furrow. The wings followspreading the soil and digging a wider and shallower furrow,simultaneously covering the first deeper furrow. Consequently, theground is minimally turned which avoids exposing lumps and buryingstraw. Typically, the depth of the narrow furrow is 4 inches below theground surface and the shallow furrow is 2 inches below the groundsurface, however these depths may vary depending on the heightadjustment of the adaptor on the tyne.

Fertiliser is added to the deep furrow before the furrow is coveredthrough a fertiliser hose 41 (FIG. 1) positioned behind the groundworking edge. As the wings spread the soil to create a shallower furrowthe fertiliser is covered. A grain hose 42 located behind the cultivatorpoint assembly deposits grain in the shallow furrow. The grain is thencovered with soil and pressed into the ground by a press wheel (notshown) trailing behind the cultivator point.

It will be understood to persons skilled in the art of the inventionthat many modifications may be made without departing from the spiritand scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A cultivator point assembly including: an adaptorhaving a front end, a rear end, an upper end and a foot projecting froma lower end; a cultivator point coupled to the adaptor and having amounting section and a forward ground-working edge; an aperture in themounting section, the foot of the adaptor extending through the aperturein a first reversed position, whereafter when the cultivator point isrotated 180° relative to the adaptor into an intermediate position inwhich the ground working edge is in a forward facing position relativeto the adaptor, the cultivator point is movable rearwardly relative tothe adaptor into a working position; and a stop, including a firststructure on the cultivator point and a second structure on the adaptor,wherein one of the first or second structures comprises a releasabledetent that engages the other of the first or second structures toprevent the cultivator point unintentionally moving into the reversedposition.
 2. The cultivator point assembly claimed in claim 1 whereinthe first structure comprises the releasable detent on the mountingsection engageable with said second structure in the form of a tongueprotruding from the rear of the adaptor to prevent the cultivator pointunintentionally moving out of the working position.
 3. The cultivatorpoint assembly claimed in claim 2 wherein the detent is a boltinsertable through a hole in the mounting section at a rear of thecultivator point.
 4. The cultivator point assembly claimed in claim 1wherein the first structure comprises the releasable detent on themounting section engageable with the second structure in the form of arecess on the rear of the adaptor to prevent rotation and detachment ofthe cultivator point if, in use, the cultivator point is unintentionallymoved out of the working position.
 5. The cultivator point assemblyclaimed in claim 4 wherein the detent is a bolt insertable through ahole in the mounting section at a rear of the cultivator point.
 6. Thecultivator point assembly claimed in claim 1 wherein the first structurecomprises the releasable detent on the mounting section which is engagedwith the second structure which is provided on a tail section of thefoot.
 7. The cultivator point assembly claimed in claim 1 wherein thecultivator point has two wing sections between the mounting section andthe ground working edge and, in relation to the mounting section, theground working edge depends lower than the wing sections.